Third Interregional Exchange Meeting in Namur, Belgium

The city of Namur will host the third Partner and Stakeholder Exchange Meeting of the Interreg Europe GRANDIS project this June, bringing together regional development actors from across Europe to continue working towards more inclusive and gender-sensitive entrepreneurship support in the context of the green and digital "twin transition".

Organised by the Public Service of Wallonia, the two-day event will focus on turning shared challenges into concrete opportunities through a dynamic programme of peer learning, local study visits, and interactive workshops.

A key highlight of the meeting will be the “Ideation” Design Thinking workshop, led by advisory partner, European Institute for Innovation - Technology (EIfI-Tech), which will guide participants in co-creating practical responses to persistent barriers faced by women entrepreneurs—ranging from access to finance and support networks to cultural mindsets and work-life balance.

Participants will also gain first-hand insights into the Walloon entrepreneurial ecosystem through site visits and testimonials from women entrepreneurs supported by local schemes such as SAACE and "Je monte ma boîte". These inspiring visits will spotlight innovative and traditional business ventures in areas like environmental remediation, waste recovery, and artisan trades.

On the second day, partners and stakeholders will present proposed good practices that respond to the project's identified challenges, followed by a session to shape the Policy Improvement Journey, supporting each region's efforts to better tailor entrepreneurship policy and support instruments.

The meeting will conclude with the third Steering Committee Meeting, reserved for project partners, to review progress, align on communication and reporting, and outline next steps in the GRANDIS project timeline.

This meeting is a key milestone in the GRANDIS journey, building on the outcomes of previous exchanges and setting the stage for the next phase of regional and interregional policy development.